New 3D printing technology uses light to fine-tune material properties

Researchers at Savannah River National Laboratory, in collaboration with university and national lab partners, have developed a novel 3D printing technology called CRAFT (Lithographic Crystallinity Regulation in Additive Fabrication of Thermoplastics). This method uses a single light source to precisely control the molecular structure of polymers during printing by adjusting light intensity in real time. Unlike traditional 3D-printed parts that have uniform material properties, CRAFT enables the creation of objects with spatially varying characteristics such as strength, flexibility, and durability within a single print. For example, a single printed object can have sections as hard as bone and others as soft as skin, all achieved without harsh chemicals or extreme heat. The technology was demonstrated by printing a soft-bodied turtle with varying flexibility and a detailed human hand model featuring rigid bones, resilient ligaments, and pliable skin—all in one continuous print using a single material. This breakthrough has significant implications for multiple industries, including aerospace, energy, and biomedicine, by